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If you suspect a policy or annuity exists, and you and the executor of the estate cannot locate it:

(1) Check the deceased's papers, address books, and lists of important telephone numbers. Look for life insurance policies and annuities and the names of insurance agents or companies.

(2) Contact every insurance company with which the deceased had a relationship or policy, even if you're not sure it is still in force. (Some types of policies may remain in force long after the deceased stopped paying premium.)

(3) Check with the employee benefits office at the deceased's last place of employment and all former places of employment where the deceased was employed for any length of time. If the deceased was a union member also check with the union welfare office. If the deceased belonged to any organizations (such as clubs or religious organizations) ask if they sponsored any life insurance programs, and, if so, if the deceased had a policy with or through them.

(4) Check the deceased's bank and brokerage firm records, including check registers, canceled checks, deposit slips, and bank books, for the last few years to see if any checks may have been written, or funds withdrawn to pay life insurance premiums, or payments received from insurance companies. Very often there will be a handwritten notation as to policy payments or receipts from dividends or policy surrenders.
(5) Check the deceased's mail for at least a year after death for premium notices, which usually are sent annually. If a policy or annuity has been paid up, there may not be any notice of premium payments due, but the company may still send an annual notice regarding the status of the policy or annuity, or it may pay or send notice of a dividend. And if the deceased had an agent, a birthday card or calendar from the agent would mean you should call.

(6) Review the deceased's income tax returns for the past few years. Look for interest income from and interest expenses paid to life insurance companies. Life insurance companies pay interest on accumulations on permanent policies and annuities charge interest on policy loans.

(7) Check with the state's unclaimed property office to see if any unclaimed money from life insurance policies may have been turned over to the state. If, after a number of years, an insurance company holding the unclaimed money cannot find the rightful owner, it turns the money over to the state.

(8) Look around the neighborhood to see if there are any local insurance agencies. While it is a long shot, you may want to drop in and ask if the deceased had a policy.

(9) Of course, you may wish to contact life insurance companies directly to see if a policy exists. The state insurance department should have a list of all life insurance companies licensed to do business in the state in which the deceased may have purchased a policy.